On 3/9/22, We proceeded from Lisbon on a 3-day visit to Barcelona’s tourist destinations & today we visited some beautiful spots full of amazing architecture keeping us spell-bound.Here I am posting the same for my valued readers.

Barcelona :

Barcelona is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia , as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. Founded as a Roman city, in the Middle Ages Barcelona became the capital of the County of Barcelona. After joining with the Kingdom of Aragon to form the confederation of the Crown of Aragon, Barcelona, which continued to be the capital of the Principality of Catalonia .Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage & is today an important cultural centre& a major tourist destination. Particularly renowned are the architectural works of Antini Gaudi & Lluis Nonenech i Montaner, which have been designated UNESCO World heritage sites. The city is home to two of the most prestigious universities in Spain: the University of Barcelona and Pompeu Fabra University The headquarters of the Union for the Mediteranean are located in Barcelona. The city is known for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics as well as world-class conferences & Expositions & also many International Sports tournaments.FC Barcelona is a sports club best known worldwide for its Football team & second richest football club in the world.

Nova Icària Beach :

The Nova Icària Beach is rightly considered to be a very peaceful beach, and is a popular choice for families and groups of friends. Lying very close to the Port Olímpic, it is surrounded by a great variety of restaurants and bars, as well as the most comprehensive range of facilities for sports and other activities on the entire coastline.
Lifeguard and safety, Local Police, beach information point, cloakroom, adapted showers, adapted public toilets, children games area, sun loungers, changing rooms, beach umbrellas, drinks and ice cream kiosks, sports, restaurants and Wi-fi.

Bathing assistance for people with reduced mobility
Accessible beaches with assistance for bathers have a changing room, amphibian wheelchairs, a winch, life vests, parasols and a volunteer service to assist people with reduced mobility to enter and leave the water and enjoy bathing .

Sports, sailing and other activities
Beach volleyball and table tennis. Centre Municipal de Vela – CMV: Dinghy sailing courses by the hour with a monitor, kayak and windsurfing.

PARK GUELL :

Parc Güell is a privatized park system composed of gardens and architectural elements located on Carmel Hill, in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Carmel Hill belongs to the mountain range of Collserola – the Parc del Carmel is located on the northern face. Park Güell is located in La Salut, a neighborhood in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. With urbanization in mind, Eusebi Güell assigned the design of the park to Antoni Gaudí, a renowned architect and the face of Catalan modernism. The park was built from 1900 to 1914 and was officially opened as a public park in 1926. In 1984, UNESCO declared the park a World Heritage Site under “Works of Antoni Gaudí”.

CASA MILA :

Casa Milà popularly known as La Pedrera or “The stone quarry”, a reference to its unconventional rough-hewn appearance, is a Modernista building in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was the last private residence designed by architect Antoni Gaudí and was built between 1906 and 1912.

The building was commissioned in 1906 by Pere Milà and his wife Roser Segimon. At the time, it was controversial because of its undulating stone facade, twisting wrought iron balconies and designed by Josep Maria Jujol. Several structural innovations include a self-supporting stone façade, and a free-plan floor, underground garage and the spectacular terrace on the roof. In 1984, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Since 2013 it has been the headquarters of the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera which manages the visit to the building,^[1] exhibitions and other cultural and educative activities at Casa Milà.

GOTHIC QUARTERS :

The Gothic Quarter is the historic centre of the old city of Barcelona. It stretches from La Rambla to Via Laietana, and from the Mediterranean seafront to the Ronda de Sant Pere. It is a part of Ciutat Vella district. The quarter encompasses the oldest parts of the city of Barcelona, and includes the remains of the city’s Roman wall and several notable medieval landmarks. Much of the present-day fabric of the quarter, however, dates to the 19th and early 20th centuries. El Call, the medieval Jewish quarter, is located within this area, along with the former Sinagoga Major. The Barri Gòtic retains a labyrinthine street plan, with many small streets opening out into squares. Most of the quarter is closed to regular traffic although open to service vehicles and taxis.

 

THE MAGIC FOUNTAIN OF MONTJUIC :

The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc is a fountain located at the head of Avinguda Maria Cristina in the Montjuïc neighborhood of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The fountain is situated below the Palau Nacional on the Montjuïc mountain and near the Plaça d’Espanya and Poble Espanyol de Barcelona. The fountain, like most of the surrounding developments, was constructed for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. The fountain sprays 700 gallons of water a second through 3620 jets to create its effect. The highest water spout is 170 feet.

THE PICASSO MUSEUM :

The Museu Picasso is an art museum in Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. It houses an extensive collection of artworks by the twentieth-century Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, with a total of 4251 of his works. It is housed in five adjoining medieval palaces on Montcada Street in the La Ribera neighborhood in the Old City of Barcelona. It opened to the public on 9 March 1963, becoming the first museum dedicated to Picasso’s work and the only one created during his lifetime. It has since been declared a museum of national interest by the Government of Catalonia. Highlights of the collection include two of his first major works, The First Communion, and Science and Charity. In particular, the Museu Picasso reveals Picasso’s relationship with the city of Barcelona, a relationship that was shaped in his youth and adolescence and continued until his death.

THE COLUMBUS MONUMENT:

The Columbus Monument is a 60 m tall monument to Christopher Columbus at the lower end of La Rambla, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was constructed for the Exposición Universal de Barcelona in honor of Columbus’ first voyage to the Americas. The monument serves as a reminder that Christopher Columbus reported to Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand V in Barcelona after his first trip to the new continent.

THE CATHEDRAL OF BARCELONA :

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, also known as Barcelona Cathedral, is the Gothic cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The cathedral was constructed from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries, with the principal work done in the fourteenth century. The cloister, which encloses the Well of the Geese, was completed in 1448. In the late nineteenth century, the neo-Gothic façade was constructed over the nondescript exterior that was common to Catalan churches. The roof is notable for its gargoyles, featuring a wide range of animals, both domestic and mythical. Its form is pseudo-basilica, vaulted over five aisles, the outer two divided into chapels. The transept is truncated. The east end is a chevet of nine radiating chapels connected by an ambulatory. The high altar is raised, allowing a clear view into the crypt. The cathedral is dedicated to Eulalia of Barcelona, co-patron saint of Barcelona, a young virgin who, according to Catholic tradition, suffered martyrdom during Roman times in the city. One story says that she was exposed naked in the public square and a miraculous snowfall in mid-spring covered her nudity.

MONTSERRAT :

Montserrat is a multi-peaked mountain range near Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. It is part of the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range. The main peaks are Sant Jeroni, Montgrós and Miranda de les Agulles. It is well known as the site of the Benedictine abbey, Santa Maria de Montserrat, which hosts the Virgin of Montserrat sanctuary. “Montserrat” literally means “serrated mountain” in Catalan. It describes its peculiar aspect with a multitude of rock formations that are visible from a great distance. The mountain is composed of strikingly pink conglomerate, a form of sedimentary rock. Montserrat was designated as a National Park in 1987. The Monastery of Montserrat which houses the virgin that gives its name to the monastery is also on the mountain, although it is also known as La Moreneta. 

SOME IMPORTANT LANDMARK BUILDINGS OF BARCELONA :

My dear readers may kindly point out any incorrect information in my above writeup needing any corrections! I am truly indebted to Wikipedia & for the invaluable information on the subject !Happy Reading !